Trying to understand.

-I started my CPAP therapy 8/10/18.

-For the past two weeks I've been super anxious and snapping at the mildest annoyances and my depressions been acting up. I've been evaluating any changes and the only thing thats changed is starting my therapy.

I'm on medication for depression and I do have GAD. I've been doing pretty good for a while now.
My biggest problem has been that I'm always exhausted and desperate for a nap.
Which led me to having the sleep study and being diagnosed with Moderate Sleep Apnea.

The first week and a half after starting my therapy I was having very vivid nightmares for what felt like the whole night. Luckily they have calmed down a bit.

I feel like my question is all over the place.
I guess what I wanna know is if CPAP therapy can cause irritability and flare ups in anxiety and depression in the beginning or treatment??

sleeping.beauty wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 02, 2018 2:02 pm

I guess what I wanna know is if CPAP therapy can cause irritability and flare ups in anxiety and depression in the beginning or treatment??

If it's working well, the results are typically the opposite.

sleeping.beauty wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 02, 2018 2:02 pm

The first week and a half after starting my therapy I was having very vivid nightmares for what felt like the whole night.

That's signs of very fractured, poor sleep. Your machine's probably not adjusted right.

@palerider

What all would need to be adjusted?? All I know is the pressure is at 10.

I figured the nightmares were happening since I was finally getting REM sleep.
My first night sleep report showed I was only getting 1.9%

sleeping.beauty wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 02, 2018 3:11 pm

@palerider

What all would need to be adjusted?? All I know is the pressure is at 10.

I figured the nightmares were happening since I was finally getting REM sleep.
My first night sleep report showed I was only getting 1.9%

You'd have to find the software that reads the data from your machine, and then look at the data to see what's happening.

Some people find during the adjustment period they sleep even worse than before simply due to all the new sensations the brain has to learn to accept as the new normal. Time usually fixes this. However, it may be that one's treatment is not yet therapeutic and machine setting changes need to be made. All the waiting in the world won't fix this. Machine data is the key to determining whether one needs to wait or make changes. About the meds - keep in mind that so many things in our bodies change with healthy restorative sleep, right down to hornone levels. It may be that your meds will need adjusted as your body and brain heals. What it took to control your symptoms during the extended sleep deprivation of untreated sleep apnea might be too much once you've had some time to heal. Plus, you never know when some of the issues you were medicated for could have been caused by the sleep issues. Discuss any concerns with your prescribing physician and work with them if changes are needed. This is a time for you to stay in tune with your body and communicate well with your doctor(s). Maybe a journal of the things your doctor wants you to report back on would help.